Friday, April 11, 2025 - The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has imposed fines totalling N628.03 million on eight electricity distribution companies for failing to comply with the approved capping of estimated billing for unmetered customers.
The sanctioned companies include Abuja, Eko, Enugu, Ikeja,
Jos, Kaduna, Kano, and Yola Electricity Distribution Companies.
The regulatory action, announced in a statement released on
Thursday, April 10, followed a detailed review of billing practices from July
to September 2024. According to NERC, the affected DisCos did not adhere to the
monthly energy caps stipulated by the commission, which are designed to protect
unmetered consumers from being charged excessively.
The penalties represent five per cent of the total
overbilled amount during the third quarter of 2024. NERC also ordered the
defaulting distribution companies to issue credit adjustments to all affected
customers no later than May 15, 2025, aligning with the conclusion of the April
billing cycle.
NERC reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing regulatory
compliance and ensuring the protection of electricity consumers across the
country. The commission recalled that in 2020 it issued the Capping of
Estimated Bills Order (Order No: NERC/197/2020), which introduced monthly caps
intended to limit estimated bills for unmetered customers based on the average
consumption of metered customers on the same supply feeder.
The commission reiterated that arbitrary billing practices
would not be tolerated and that it would continue to monitor DisCos for
adherence to its regulations.
0 Comments